Connector for connecting to helically corrugated conduit

Abstract

A connector for connecting to helically corrugated conduit which comprises a bolt member having a passageway therethrough and a connecotr body having a hollow end portion for receiving the bolt member, In addition, the connector includes a helical spring within the passageway which is adapted to be received within the helical corrugations of the conduit. The connector further includes a means for forcing the bolt member into the hollow end portion of the body of the connector to squeeze the spring between the bolt member and connector body whereby the spring is axially forced against the corrugations. In addition, a method of connecting a helically corrugated conduit to a connector is disclosed which comprises the steps of (1) sliding a hollow bolt member having an internal flange over an end portion of the conduit until a part of the end portion closest to the end is uncovered; (2) screwing a helical spring onto a part of the uncovered end portion of the conduit until the entire spring is within the corrugations of the conduit; (3) sliding the bolt member axially over the spring until the internal flange of the bolt member contacts the spring; and (4) forcing the bolt member into a hollow end portion of the body of the connector.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A connector for connecting to helically corrugated conduit comprising: a bolt member having a passageway therethrough;   a connector body having a hollow end portion for receiving the bolt member;   a helical spring within the passageway and adapted to be received within the helical corrugations of the conduit; and   means for forcing said bolt member into said hollow end portion to squeeze said spring between said bolt member and connector body whereby said spring is axially forced against the corrugations.   
     
     
       2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said spring is composed of a conductive material. 
     
     
       3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the end portion of said corrugated conduit which receives said spring has a maximum outer diameter which is substantially equal to the maximum outer diameter of the remaining portion of said corrugated conduit. 
     
     
       4. The connector of claim 1 wherein one end portion of said bolt member is externally threaded and the hollow end portion of said connector body is internally threaded. 
     
     
       5. The connector of claim 1 wherein one end portion of said bolt member includes an internal flange. 
     
     
       6. The connector of claim 5 wherein the other end portion of said bolt member further includes an external flange. 
     
     
       7. The connector of claim 6 wherein said external flange is hexagonally configured. 
     
     
       8. A method of connecting a helically corrugated conduit to a connector, said method comprising the steps of: sliding a hollow bolt member having an internal flange over an end portion of the conduit until a part of the end portion closest to the end is uncovered;   screwing a helical spring onto a part of the uncovered end portion of the conduit until the entire spring is within the corrugations of the conduit;   sliding the bolt member axially over the spring until the internal flange of the bolt member contacts the spring; and   forcing the bolt member into a hollow end portion of the body of the connector.   
     
     
       9. The method of connecting a helically corrugated conduit to a connector of claim 8 wherein said connecting step includes screwing the bolt member into meshing relationship with the body of the connector. 
     
     
       10. A helically corrugated conduit and connector assembly, comprising: a conduit having a helically corrugated outer surface;   a bolt member having a passageway therethrough;   a connector body having a hollow end portion for receiving the bolt member;   a helical spring within the Passageway and received within the helical corrugations of the conduit; and   means for forcing said bolt member into said hollow end portion to squeeze said spring between said bolt member and connector body whereby said spring is axially forced against the corrugations.   
     
     
       11. The helically corrugated conduit and connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said spring is comPosed of a conductive material. 
     
     
       12. The helically corrugated conduit and connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the end portion of said corrugated conduit which receives said spring has a maximum outer diameter which is substantially equal to the maximum outer diameter of the remaining portion of said corrugated conduit. 
     
     
       13. The helically corrugated conduit and connector assembly of claim 10 wherein one end portion of said bolt member includes an internal flange. 
     
     
       14. A connector for connecting to helically corrugated conduit comprising: a bolt member having a passageway therethrough for receiving the conduit;   a connector body having a hollow end portion for receiving the conduit;   a helical spring within the hollow end portion and adapted to be received within the helical corrugations of the conduit; and   means for moving said bolt member relative to said connector body to squeeze said spring between said bolt member and connector body whereby said spring is axially forced against the corrugations.